rostra
[ ros-truh ]
/ ˈrɒs trə /
noun
a plural of rostrum.
Words nearby rostra
rostenkowski,
roster,
rostock,
rostov,
rostovtzeff,
rostra,
rostrad,
rostral,
rostral column,
rostrate,
rostrocarinate
Definition for rostra (2 of 2)
rostrum
[ ros-truhm ]
/ ˈrɒs trəm /
noun, plural ros·tra [ros-truh] /ˈrɒs trə/, ros·trums.
any platform, stage, or the like, for public speaking.
a pulpit.
a beaklike projection from the prow of a ship, especially one on an ancient warship for ramming an enemy ship; beak; ram.
Roman Antiquity.
(in the forum) the raised platform, adorned with the beaks of captured warships, from which orations, pleadings, etc., were delivered.
Biology.
a beaklike process or extension of some part; rostellum.
British Theater.
a raised platform or dais, especially one with hinged sides that can be folded and stored within a relatively small space.
Origin of rostrum
1570–80; < Latin
rōstrum snout, bill, beak of a bird, ship's prow (in plural, speaker's platform), equivalent to
rōd(ere) to gnaw, bite (cf.
rodent) +
-trum instrumental suffix, with
dt >
st
Example sentences from the Web for rostra
British Dictionary definitions for rostra
rostrum
/ (ˈrɒstrəm) /
noun plural -trums or -tra (-trə)
any platform, stage, or dais on which public speakers stand to address an audience
a platform or dais in front of an orchestra on which the conductor stands
another word for ram (def. 5)
the prow or beak of an ancient Roman ship
biology zoology
a beak or beaklike part
Word Origin for rostrum
C16: from Latin
rōstrum beak, ship's prow, from
rōdere to nibble, gnaw; in plural,
rōstra, orator's platform, because this platform in the Roman forum was adorned with the prows of captured ships
Medical definitions for rostra
rostrum
[ rŏs′trəm ]
n. pl. ros•trums
A beaklike or snoutlike projection.